As temperatures cool off here in Dallas, with school is back in full swing, and the hustle and bustle of the holidays looming, it seems almost impossible to eat “healthy” like I did over the summer.
When I think of summertime meals, I think of fresh veggies and fruits, crisp salads, and simple, light meals. But now, school chaos is back in full swing, Halloween candy calls to me from the end caps of grocery aisles, yummy baked goods and warm carb-&-fat- loaded casseroles taunt me on Pinterest…I figure I should establish a better plan to try to stay on track with a healthy diet this upcoming holiday season.
How to Eat Healthy During the Holidays
1. Pasta Alternatives
As an avid pasta lover, I could easily eat hearty Italian food three or four times a week. Clearly, that’s not going to be ideal. A great option I’ve found and loved are zoodles. As we all know by now, zoodles are zucchini that have been sliced into thin strips to replicate a spaghetti noodle. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should! The best store-bought zoodles I’ve found are in the frozen section at Trader Joe’s. I replace my regular spaghetti noodles with these, pour sauce, and pair with a protein for a lighter and healthier dinner option.
2. Rice Alternatives
It seems like the latest trend nowadays is to turn cauliflower into anything. Cauliflower rice is a just cauliflower minced into tiny, rice-like pieces. Happily, when thrown together with multiple ingredients, you barely notice a difference from actual rice!
3. Breakfast with Veggies
When I think of breakfast, I usually think of simple pancakes, eggs, and bacon or sausage. Vegetables don’t really come to mind when picturing my breakfast plate. But I’ve started incorporating vegetables in more and more and finding myself feeling better AND more full after a well-rounded breakfast. Some variations I do in the mornings are:
- Breakfast bowls: eggs, sausage, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, onions, spinach, and tomatoes.
- Bell pepper “boats”: half a bell pepper with an egg baked inside (either scrambled with spinach or cooked “sunny side up” style).
- Egg muffins: scrambled eggs in a muffin pan with spinach, meat of your choice, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc.
4. Bell Pepper Sandwiches
Bell pepper sandwiches are definitely something I was iffy about when I first heard of them. Don’t knock it ’til ya try it, though! Replace your bread/bagel with a whole bell pepper cut in half. I like to spread garlic hummus on the bell pepper half, then fill with sliced chicken breast, tomato, avocado, and spinach.
5. Spinach in Literally Everything
Spinach is one of my favorite things to hide or throw in everything.
- Smoothies: I’ll make a regular fruit smoothie and toss in a handful of spinach. You don’t even taste it like you think you would!
- Sauces: Whether it be marinara or Alfredo, I love throwing in a cup or two of spinach. They cook down so quickly in the sauces, and it’s barely noticeable as a flavor. It also adds color to your dish!
- Enchiladas or tacos: I’ll toss some spinach into my meat mixture for these. Sometimes I’ll even add to sour cream sauce on enchiladas.
- Wraps or sandwiches: Put in a hefty amount to add color and texture.
6. Veggie Dippers
Are you a dipper and snacker like I am? Something about sauces and dips seems to really make or break whatever I’m eating. I’ve explored different ranch dressings that are healthier but still yummy and have started to reach for baby carrots, tomatoes, mini cucumbers, and broccoli, instead of more chips and queso. My favorite ranch is the Primal Kitchen brand. I pour a little into pre-portioned cups, and bag up a variety of veggies, so when I get the mid-afternoon munchies, I’m more likely to reach for this option.
At the end of the day, do what is best for your family. It’s taken me a while (and a little forcing) to get adjusted to learning to like veggies. But vegetables can add so much variety to standard dishes.
There really are no limits to what you can add. Give yourself a little push and time to adjust. I’ve noticed so many differences in how I feel overall after adding more vitamins and nutrients into my diet. Your body will thank you!
